Mallory Thompson’s history at Northwestern University began as an undergraduate student studying to become a professional trumpet player. But her Northwestern career led her in an entirely different direction.
In May, she will lead her final concert, capping a 28-year career as director of bands at the University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music. She was the first woman to serve in that position. Her titles include John W. Beattie Chair of Music, Professor of Music, Coordinator of Conducting Program, and Charles Deering McCormick Professor.
“I was a music education major at Northwestern as an undergraduate student,” Thompson related. “I took a conducting class and really enjoyed it. It started to become apparent to me that while I loved the trumpet, it didn’t necessarily love me back and it didn’t come real naturally to me. I was very much what you’d call an upstream player. With conducting, that seemed to come initially very naturally to me. It also appealed to my nature as someone who likes to gather people together and get people to collaborate.”
After earning her Bachelor of Music Education degree at Northwestern, Thompson earned a Master of Music degree in Conducting there, while continuing to study trumpet. Her next step was earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with conductor Donald Hunsberger.
Thompson worked at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music as Director of Wind Studies for one year before being offered the position of Director of Bands at Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music.
Thompson indicated that she didn’t think about the fact that she was making history as the first female Director of Bands at Northwestern.
“My whole career has been about trying to do the work the best that I could and learn as much as I could as quickly as possible. And trying to be as good a teacher and musician as I could for the people that I was working with,” Thompson explained.
During her tenure as Director of Bands, the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble made five recordings on the Summit Records label.
“Those were great learning experiences for the students and for me,” Thompson noted.
The Wind Ensemble has collaborated with many composers, including John Adams, Michael Colgrass, Jennifer Higdon, Jonathan Newman and Adam Schoenberg among others.
The group played at the College Band Directors National Association national conventions in 2001 and 2017.
While immersed in the demanding role, Thompson has done extensive guest conducting and served as a conducting teacher and guest lecturer across the United States and Canada. She has also served as a conductor or clinician at the College Band Directors National Association regional and national conventions, the Midwest Clinic and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Talking to Thompson, it immediately becomes apparent that her number one focus is nurturing her students.
She said that on a daily basis she has “the commitment to my students to do everything possible to help them achieve their potential. I feel if I don’t really push that I’m going to leave something behind that they could have done. It’s really important to me to encourage and push and coax and cajole them to help them achieve their potential.”
In celebration of Thompson’s retirement, two concerts have been scheduled. The first one was held on April 19; the second one will be on May 26 at 5 p.m. at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.
“The program is beginning with a Wagner transcription that I wrote when I was a doctoral student at Eastman, and I dedicated it to Donald Hunsberger,” Thompson related. Hunsberger, renowned conductor, died in November.
“I wanted to do this for him and also to kind of wrap a bow around this significant part of my life from finishing my doctorate to finishing my career,” she explained.
There will also be a composition by young composer Ben Horne called “Deep River,” which is a setting of that spiritual. The first half of the concert will conclude with a transcription of the Bach “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” arranged by Hunsberger. The program will end with “Symphony No. 4” by David Maslanka.
“It’s a spectacular, emotional piece that many of our alumni will have played,” Thompson said.
Tickets to the concert are $8; $5 for students. Call (847) 467-4000 or visit music.northwestern.edu/events/symphonic-wind-ensemble-29.
‘I’m so honored that so many of my former students are coming back for my last concert from all over the world,” Thompson said.
Thompson has also earned another honor- a fund established in her name to support academic and athletic bands for years to come.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Thompson declared. “When they told me about it, I wanted to be clear in the purpose of the fund that this is to support the student experience.” She stressed that she wanted the fund to include the marching band students.
As her career at Northwestern winds down, Thompson is making plans for the future.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to in retirement is having the time to read a book, go to the gym, sleep in a little bit, go for a walk, cook,” Thompson said. We’re guessing that music will also be in her plans.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
